East Bengal look to take full points against Air India
- 8:13 AM
- By Football Fans Manipur
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PUNE, Nov 9: East Bengal hasn’t done anything spectacular this season, but the Kolkata side is just up to the task and coach Trevor Morgan is not in a real hurry as things have worked well in their favour in the first four encounters.
Ball possession will be key area where Morgan wants the team to focus as East Bengal take on Air India in the Round V match at the Balewadi Sports Complex stadium here on Saturday.
After an early morning practice, East Bengal team looked relaxed on a pitch that has been their happy hunting ground.
“I know we have a good side, but we would like to be complacent. Every opponent is a good and I am not going to underestimate Air India for that matter,” said Morgan.
East Bengal have 8 points from four matches and in No 4 position, while Air India is at No 12 position with 3 points from one win.
“We missed many chances in the last match against Dempo and I don’t want the team to do that again,” Morgan said of the Round IV match that red and gold brigade drew at home against the Goan defending champions.
“We are working on our front-line and mid-field combination. We are totally prepared for the Air India match given that weather here is perfect for football,” he said.
East Bengal, which has an all-win head-to-head record going right till December 2010, will surely be the side to beat.
It was Edeh Chidi who had given East Bengal the lead against Dempo and he will again be the key player given that he has been in prime form since the season began. Morgan had fielded an unchanged side from their win over Pune FC on October 29, apart from injured goalkeeper Abhijit Mondal, who was replaced by Gurpreet Singh Sandhu. Manandeep Singh and Edeh Chidi had started up front with Robin Singh finding a place on the bench.
Given that this formation worked for him, Morgan will again go with the same men as he faced no injury worries. Mehtab Hussain too was in fine form creating so many chances and Morgan hopes he will finally get rewarded on the morrow. East Bengal was a dominant side against Dempo, but were unlucky to get full points.
On the other hand, Air India too has recovered by winning against ONGC in their last match. Though youngster Pradeep Mohanraj scored a brace for Air India, it was Pune boy Prakash Thorat’s goal that give more hope for Air India.
Having forced to play their home matches at the Balewadi Stadium, Air India will hope the motely crowd that gathers to cheer to Thorat will inspire him on Saturday to come up with yet another fine show.
The Godfrey Pereira coached side has begun on a slow note, but the win against ONGC was a morale booster. Strikers Henry Ezeh and Elijah Obagbemiro Junior should combine well to give East Bengal some tense moments.
Ball possession will be key area where Morgan wants the team to focus as East Bengal take on Air India in the Round V match at the Balewadi Sports Complex stadium here on Saturday.
After an early morning practice, East Bengal team looked relaxed on a pitch that has been their happy hunting ground.
“I know we have a good side, but we would like to be complacent. Every opponent is a good and I am not going to underestimate Air India for that matter,” said Morgan.
East Bengal have 8 points from four matches and in No 4 position, while Air India is at No 12 position with 3 points from one win.
“We missed many chances in the last match against Dempo and I don’t want the team to do that again,” Morgan said of the Round IV match that red and gold brigade drew at home against the Goan defending champions.
“We are working on our front-line and mid-field combination. We are totally prepared for the Air India match given that weather here is perfect for football,” he said.
East Bengal, which has an all-win head-to-head record going right till December 2010, will surely be the side to beat.
It was Edeh Chidi who had given East Bengal the lead against Dempo and he will again be the key player given that he has been in prime form since the season began. Morgan had fielded an unchanged side from their win over Pune FC on October 29, apart from injured goalkeeper Abhijit Mondal, who was replaced by Gurpreet Singh Sandhu. Manandeep Singh and Edeh Chidi had started up front with Robin Singh finding a place on the bench.
Given that this formation worked for him, Morgan will again go with the same men as he faced no injury worries. Mehtab Hussain too was in fine form creating so many chances and Morgan hopes he will finally get rewarded on the morrow. East Bengal was a dominant side against Dempo, but were unlucky to get full points.
On the other hand, Air India too has recovered by winning against ONGC in their last match. Though youngster Pradeep Mohanraj scored a brace for Air India, it was Pune boy Prakash Thorat’s goal that give more hope for Air India.
Having forced to play their home matches at the Balewadi Stadium, Air India will hope the motely crowd that gathers to cheer to Thorat will inspire him on Saturday to come up with yet another fine show.
The Godfrey Pereira coached side has begun on a slow note, but the win against ONGC was a morale booster. Strikers Henry Ezeh and Elijah Obagbemiro Junior should combine well to give East Bengal some tense moments.
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